Have you ever seen Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical Hamilton?
There’s a line where Aaron Burr gives Alexander Hamilton a piece of advice:
"Talk less and smile more."
That phrase pops into my head frequently—especially when I’m watching things start to come undone in meetings and conversations.
It makes me wonder: is quiet, curious listening an art we’ve lost?
When tensions run high or we have to step into an uncomfortable conversation, our natural human instinct is to do the exact opposite...
⬇️ Btw, watch instead of reading, or read on below.
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We talk more. We talk faster. We rush to explain, defend, or fill the awkward silence as quickly as possible.
But in those exact moments when we speed up, clarity is what is lost.
When we rush to fill the room with words, we lose the space to actually hear what’s happening beneath the surface.
Lately, I’ve been reminding people—and myself, because we all need a good reminder—of a simple shift:
In the moments when tensions get high, ask one good open-ended question—out of curiosity—and then shut up and listen for the answer.
It sounds almost too simple, but sitting in that quiet space takes real intention. When you trade the urge to control the conversation for genuine curiosity, you give clarity a chance to re-enter the room.
My challenge for you today:
Where in your life or work right now are you talking faster when really you need to be listening deeper?
The next time a moment feels tense or uncomfortable, try it out: Talk less, smile more, and lead with one curious question.
I’d love to hear how that goes for you....reply to let me know where you’re putting this into practice this week.
Love doing life with you,
Dawn
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